Before the Tea Party movement took center stage in U.S. politics, there was another conservative-leaning group who in the mid-20th Century championed shrinking the size of federal government, end social programs like Social Security and other causes.
The John Birch Society was an ultra-conservative group that worked in the 1960s to advance their goals, which also included privatizing public utilities and safeguarding against a perceived Communist invasion. An author of new book, who has a unique personal perspective on the movement, said she sees clear parallels between both groups and their agendas -- now and then.
Claire Conner is the daughter of two of the society’s founding members and author of “Wrapped in the Flag: A Personal History of America’s Radical Right,” and said she thinks today’s Tea Party shares many similarities to the group that she eventually came to reject. As an example, she points to the legislative gridlock going on between the Republican-dominated U.S. House of Representatives and the Democratic-controlled Senate.
“Dad always used to say, ‘The only good time is when no bills are coming up, when nothing is being passed,’” she said, referring to Congress.
Echoing that perspective, U.S. House Speaker John Boehner has said his party should judge itself by how many laws they repeal. Conner said she thinks Tea Party members today have much in common with John Birch Society members.
“I say, 'Send John Boehner a John Birch Society membership card,'” Conner said.
Conner said she joined the John Birch Society at the age of 13, because, as she said, “I loved my parents. My parents said, ‘This is what we're doing, so that's what I did.’"
Conner, who gradually became a progressive advocate despite her early immersion in right-wing politics, remembers helping set up chairs for society meetings, where members pledged to the flag, discussed the month’s teachings from founder Robert Welch and worked on such business as sending letters to lawmakers, or gathering signatures for petitions.
“They organized large groups of people around the country around specific issues,” she said. “They were ahead of their times in many ways.”
But, has John Birch founder Robert Welch’s dream come true? Conner said yes, and points to the huge prevalence of the ideas the group advocated -- spread in part by brothers David and Charles Koch, well-known conservatives and philanthropists, whose father Fred was another founding member.
“These people are using vast wealth to change the way we view government,” she said, of the Koch brothers. “The ideas have taken root.”
Meanwhile, she said government is functioning just as the John Birch Society would want.
“The right wing has effectively shut down federal government, is making massive changes in state government. I think my parents would be happy," she said.
